HIGHWAYS COSTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 12

HIGHWAYS COSTS

BOARD MAY RESTRICT EXPENDITURE LESS REVENUE EXPECTED Press Association BLENHEIM, Friday. The fact that the Main Highways Board fully expected a reduction in income this year, and in consequence would have to restrict expenditure in some degree, was made clear by the chairman, Mr. F. W. Furkert, at a conference the board and Ma ri - borough local bodies. Mr. Furkert’s remarks were prompted by the faci that several requests were made to the board for the declaration of additional highways in connection with which tho board would have to pay subsidies "Tho board reviews main highways every year and that review is duo this month,” he stated. “We must consider tho present financial position. All indications at present are that the public is going to have a smaller purchasing power than for several years past. That means that it will burn less benzine, use fewer tyres and probably import fewer motor-ears, and it is almost certain our revenue will be less. It will not increase in tho way it has been increasing. We will have to go very cannily before we declare any extra highways. “Any modifications we make may be in the direction of removing from the lists roads which do not justify Inclusion in the category of highways and giving- in substitution roads that have stronger claims to being declared. The whole business will have to be gone into carefully in connection with the annual review.”